Sword of Truth - Legend of the Seeker Book 3 - Blood of the Fold

Blood of the Fold is the third book in the series The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind and continues from Stone of Tears, book 2.

In this book we learn that the Sisters of the Dark are in deadly peril, there is a fast, unseen, deadly foe that can kill people extremely easily, attacking the people of Aydindril in the Midlands. There are witch hunters who are hunting anyone they believe have magic and killing them. These hunters are the Nicobarese. They are looking for banelings and they believe that every person of magic is evil and must be killed.

The sad truth is that these witch hunters only see banelings amongst innocent people and they don't recognise the true banelings for what they are because of their blinkered outlook and the fact that they are being manipulated by a new foe from the Old World - The Imperial Order. I suppose this is a manifestation of the Wizards First Rule.

The Nicobarese, led by Lord General tobias Brogan, believe that they are fighting the Keeper, the ruler of the world of the dead.

Lord General Tobias Brogan is a nice pen portrait of an arrogant, dangerous fool, who uses his sister Lunetta, a sorceress, to aid him - a nice double standard - he wants to kill people with magic but will use his sister to aid his 'work'.

In this book the canon of the Imperial Order is set out - to rule the world and eliminate all magic in it, except of course the magic used by the Imperial Order. Classic doublethink. Shades of Animal Farm begin to appear.

Now the Imperial Order is such a large threat, with massive armies, that Richard Rahl attempts to unite the whole of the Midlands under one command, with some success. We see the political posturings of some of the lands in opposition to this and the beliefs of others who think the future lies with the Old World and the Imperial Army.

Cara, a Mord Sith, becomes more prominent in this book as Richard's protector and we are also introduced to a couple of other Mord Sith, Raina and Berdine who become part of Richard's entourage, each with skills and personalities of their own that begin to overtake their classical Mord Sith training.

Richard learns, as per a prophecy, of the execution of Kahlan, and how this was staged with Zedd's help.

We also get the first inkling of a Wizard of the Imperial Order able to enter people's dreams and thoughts, and so control them, Emperor Jagang, the ruler/leader of the Old World.

It is through his wizardry that the Sisters of the Dark are snared to do his bidding.

This book really sets the scene for the rest of the series and the conflict between the Midlands forces and the Imperial Order.

Blood of the Fold reveals the Wizard's Third Rule:

Passion rules reason.

In the book it is explained thus: "Letting your emotions control your reason may cause trouble for yourself and those around you."

Book four, Temple of the Winds, is summarised here.

Buy Sword of Truth - UK readers - here.